Boys & Girls Club board member receives recognition

Boys & Girls Club of America's National Vice President of Organizational and Executive Development John Miller presents Cynthia Shular the Beverly Burton Award honoring the new board member of the year for the state of Tennessee.

SEVIERVILLE —

Cynthia Shular, who serves on the local board of directors at the Boys & Girls Club in Sevierville, was presented the Beverly Burton Award, which recognizes the outstanding new board member in the state of Tennessee.

"I was shocked, it was really an honor," Shular said. "I don't even really have words."

Mark Ross, Chief Professional Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of The Smoky Mountains, agreed that it was a great honor for Shular to win the award.

"It shows that she has made a huge impact and is very involved," Ross said.

Shular said she is honored just to be associated with the organization.

"Everything goes straight to the kids, helping them with their grades, helping them eventually graduate and be someone," Shular said.

Shular said she thinks the most important work she does with the Boys & Girls Club is a mentoring program called Women of the Round Table, which pairs influential and successful women with young girls.

"They have a chance to talk about their hopes and futures," Shular said.

Ross agrees that the program is an important part of Shular's involvement in winning the award.

"These girls are mentored to make sure they're headed in the right direction and stay in the right direction," Ross said.

"She's a fantastic role model for both young people and for the board members."